Picture-frame.



JOHN F. HAWKES, OF MALDEN, MASSACHUSETTS.

PICTURE -FRAME Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 25, 1908.

Application led January 11, 1907. Serial No. 351,843.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, JOHN F. HAwKEs, of Malden, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Picture-Frames, of which the following` is a speciiication.

This invention relates to picture frames and particularly to smaller frames such as those adapted to hold photographs.

The object of the invention is to provide a take-down frame composed of interchangeable and removable parts which may be easily assembled without the employment of a tool, and which may be suspended if desired, as a whole, by means of a continuous band engaging certain portions of the frame, and a fixed support.

The frame illustrated in the accompanying drawings comprises edge pieces, and corner pieces formed as spring-clips and adapted to confine the edge pieces and take such hold upon the picture as may hold them firmly intact when subject only to ordinary handling or usage. The frame is adapted to contain the usual glass front, the article constituting the subj ect, and if desirable, suitable backing such as a stiff card of the same size as the subject and the glass front.

Referring to the drawings forming part of this specificatiom-Figure 1 is a front elevation of a frame constructed and assembled in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a section thereof on line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation.

The same reference characters indicate the saine parts wherever they occur.

The frame comprises, as hereinbefore stated, edge pieces or strips'indicated by the numeral 10, and corner pieces 1 1. The crosssection of the edge pieces is L-sha ed as shown in Fig. 2, by reason of whic said pieces are adapted to overlap and confine between them a glass front 12, the pictorial subject 13, and a card or backing 14. The corner pieces 11 are also L-shaped in cross-sec tion and each is adapted to overlap and embrace the adjacent extremities of each pair of edge pieces where the latter meet and form an angle. The corner pieces are provided with inwardly projecting spring iingers or clips 15, the ends of which are outturned to form hooks which are adapted to yieldingly A engage the back of the picture and so to constitute a clamp for preventing undue derangement of the corner pieces. By reason of so forming the corner pieces, they may be assembled or removed only by an edgewise movement, and that movement is impeded by reason of the frictional engagement of the spring clips with the back of the picture.

A distinct feature of this form of frame is that pictures of different sizes within a predetermined scope may be inserted without changing any of the parts. For instance, if the corner pieces are one inch long on each side where they overlap the edge pieces, the frame may be distended almost two inches either or both ways without causing the corner pieces to uncover the extreme ends of the edge pieces. Then further the edge ieces being interchangeable may be replaced by similar pieces of diiferent lengths, when they are used to contain a picture whose dimensions are not within the scope of the former pieces.

The edge pieces 10 are preferably provided only when it is desired to provide a glass front and backing for the picture, and it may be seen that the corner pieces alone may be used to contain the picture, the spring clips 15 being adapted by reason of their ilexibility to accommodate and clamp subjects of varying thicknesses.

Whether the frame is to be used with or without the edge pieces or the glass front and A backing, the whole may be suspended by means of a continuous band 16. The said band may be of any suitable material, extensible or not, and of any desired length provided, however, that it be sufficiently long to encircle the hooked spring clips 15, as shown in Fig. 3. When the frame is assembled as illustrated, and it is desired to suspend it by means of the band 16, it is preferable that either of the stretches a a be utilized for the purpose. When'so suspended, the band serves as an additional means for conining the corner pieces and holding them intact. lf, however, it be desirable to suspend the picture by means of either of the stretches t l) of the band,` so as to hold the picture in an upright position, the corner pieces 11 are preferably interchanged so that their hooked spring clips extend at right angles to the positions in which they are shown. A

Having thus explained the nature of the invention and described a way of constructing and using the same, although without attempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may be made, or all of the modes of its use, I declare that what I claim is 1. A frame for pictures or other pictorial cards consisting of edge pieces adapted to be fitted over the edges of the article to be framed, corner pieces for retaining said edge pieces in position, spring clips formed integral With said corner pieces and having free ends adapted to yieldingly engage the back of the article to be framed, the ends of said spring clips being hook-shaped, and a continuous band engaging said clips.

2. A take-down frame for pictures or other pictorial cards comprising separate edge pieces of L-shaped cross-section adapted to overlap the edges and front of the picture, corner pieces of L-shaped cross-section adapted to overlap the front of the picture and to embrace and conline the adjacent extremities of each pair of edge pieces, a spring clip formed integral With and extending inwardly from the back edge of each of the corner pieces and having a free end adapted to yieldingly coniine the backing ofthe picture, the .ends of said clips being out-turned to form hooks, and a member adapted to eX- tend around said hooks and affixed support so as to suspend the frame and its contents. In testimony whereof il have aliXed my signature, in presence of tWo Witnesses.

JOHN F. HAVKES Witnesses:

M. B. MAY, A. L. FoLsoM. 

